Machine for packaging cylindrical objects



Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 INVENTOR s' ATTORNEYS www QEORGE BHomEs, CHARLES H. 3 lNQLAl R. PERQY L. ALEAANDERR. 2m ROV L. VEQNON.

Jan. 16, 1962 G, B. HOLMES ETAL 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING 4CYLINDRCL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 INVENTORSI ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL 3,016,553

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS INVENTORS: 13V" GEORGE B. HOLM E5, C HARLEs H. SANCLAIR,

PERRY L.ALEXANUER,IR. L 4.5 find RoJ L. VERNON.

mm., @amm M150,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FCR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb, 4, 1957 Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAI. 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-$11661. 7

INVENTORS: GEORGE B. HOLMES, CHARLES H. SMCVLNR, Z1 g'- Pff-:Rav L` ALEXANDERJRand ROY Ve @NON ATTORNEYS Jan 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL 3,0155653 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL. 3,016,563

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 SheebS-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 www,

mank@ wrm Jan. 16, 1962 G. a. HoLMl-:s ETAL 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet lO 266 ed l ZID' 227' INVENTOR GEORGE B. HoLMEs, 3 M' CHARLES. HmcU/NR ,PERRQ L .luJawMDERRl ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 SheebS-Sheel'. 1l

INVENTOR GEORGE BHOLMES, CHARLES H. SNCLNR,

PERRQ L. ALExANoERJRa/vz/ROY L-VERNON. Jg--lZ'A Y BY M-LW ATTORNEYS ,y

Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL.

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 Tom@ Filed Feb. 4, 1957 Jan- 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL. 3,016,653

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTORSS. GEORGE-BHOLMES, CHA RLESH. SINCLMR, PERRv L ALExANoERJRand Row LNERNQN- BYAL". @1191, mw M1573,

ATTORNEY 5 Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETA.. 3,016,663I

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORS.' GEORGE B; 11mm Es ,CHARLES H. SxNCLAx R, PER Rv L. ALEKANDERJR. and Row LNERNQN,

BYfaJbm,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FCR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 SheeCs-Sheet .15

Filed Feb. 4, 1957 4m ll Innen. ana-"'11 u,

INVENTORSI GEORGE BHoLMespHARLes H, "amcLAwa, PERRY LALEXANDERRm/Rov LVRNCN.

BY iam @am 51m4- ATTORNEY si Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FCR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 To SUC'HON CUPS To VACUUM PUMP Jan. 16, 1962 G. B. HOLMES ETAL MACHINE FCR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 18 Sheets-Sheet 17|' Filed Feb. 4, 1957 Jam 16 1962 G. B. HOLMES f-:TAL 3,016,663

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 1N VENT ORS.'

GEoRE BHOLMES, C HARLES H. SlNcLmR, PERRY LALEXANDE RJRandRov L VERNON.

ATTORNEYS 3,016,663 MACHINE FR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS George B.' Hohnes, 330 Victory Ave., South San Francisco, Calif.; Charles II. Sinclair, 1817 Hall Ave., Charlotte, ELC.; Perry L. Alexander, Jr., Rte. 4, Matthews, NC.; and Roy L. Vernon, 395 N. Poplar St., Charlotte, NJC. Filed Feb. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 637,944

l Claims. (Cl. 53-32) This invention relates to a packaging machine and more particularly to a machine for automatically packaging cylindrical articles such as cans of beverage in openended cartons while continuously moving the cans and cartons in a forward direction.

Heretofore, most machines for packaging cylindrical objects or cans in cartons have operated intermittently, that is, the carton blank or partially assembled carton remains stationary while groups of cylindrical objects or cans are moved into engagement therewith from above or below or from one of its ends. Needless to say, this stopping of the carton blankV or partially assembled carton to receive the cylindrical objects or cans necessarily prevented the packaging machine Vfrom being operated at a high speed for great eflicicncy.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a packaging machine for cylindrical objects such as cans wherein the cans and carton blanks are continuously moved in a forward direction and the cans received on the carton blank aud the carton blank subsequently folded around the cans and sealed to confine the cans therein.

It is a more specific object of the invention to continuously feed carton blanks in spaced apart relation from one elevation and to continuously feed inverted groups of cans from a higher elevation and to move the carton blanks and groups of cans forwardly to a station where the groups of cans are moved onto the moving carton blanks after which each of the blanks is folded laterally around the group of cans and its opposite ends adhesively secured together to complete the package.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a packaging machine adapted to use strip like carton blanks having can locking tabs formed therein and wherein the packaging machine is provided with means for positioning the locking tabs to engage the ends or rim portions of the cans in the carton to prevent their being displaced therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel means for dividing the cans into predetermined groups while continuously feeding the cans forwardly to the cartonV blank loading station.

It' is a further object of the invention to provide novel means. for feeding and delivering the carton blanks to the' can` loading station.

It is also a further' object toprovide means for exerting a' side` pressure or squeezing action to the filled cartons' to position the ends or rims of the cans inl apertures in the carton formed adjacent the junctures of its side walls and top and bottom walls. This squeezing action also servesv to move the opposite ends or flaps of the cartons inwardly towards each other to permit the aps to be adhesively secured together while the carton is in a tensioned condition.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel overhead compression means to exert aV downward pressure on the adhesively secured together carton flaps while the glue is setting and before' the carton is discharged from the machine. p

It is a still further object of ther invention to provide can and carton blank feed safety switches to automatically Some of the objects of the invention having been stated,

other objects will appear as the description proceeds,.- when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the packaging machine with suitable legend being applied to show the various stages or the points at which various operations occur throughout the machine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE l but omitting the can actuated control switches;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic partially exploded view showing the drive arrangement for the various stages of the packaging machine;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic elevation showing the inan-V ner in which the carton blanks are fed upwardly from below the groups of cans in timed relation thereto to receive the cans while both the carton blanks and cans are continuously moving in a forward direction;

FIGURES 5 and S-A collectively are a plan View on an enlarged scale of the entire packaging machine with FIGURE 5 showing the rear portion of the machine and FIGURE S-A showing the front portion;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale looking from the right side of FIGURE Il;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 and showing the arrangement of the various moto-rs in the lower portion of the framework;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken along line S--S in FIGURE l adjacent the rear end of the packaging machine;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section with parts broken awa-y taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE 8 and showing the feeding means for moving the carton blanks upwardly in spaced apart relation to receive groups of cans thereon;

FIGURE l() is a longitudinal sectional plan view taken along line 10e-10 of FIGURE 9 and showing in detail the carton blank feeding conveyor and the mechanism for positioning the carton blank locking tabs to ove'rlie the wall of the blank on which the cans are received;

FIGURES l1 and ll-A collectively are a vertical Section on an enlarged scale taken along line Y--Y of FIG`-4 URE 5 with FIGURE ll showing" the rear portion ofthe" machine and FIGURE ll-A showing an intermediate portion and both collectively showing the meansV for elevatiug the stack of carton blanks and for feeding the carton blanks upwardly and forwardly to receive the cans thereon and the gluing for the carton blanks;

FIGURE l2 is an enlarged longitudinal verticalsectional viewl taken collectively on lines Ai-A and B-'Bi of FIGURES 5 and S-A and Showing the carton folding station, side compression unit, and a portion of theV overhead compression unity for Sealing the carton;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse vertical sectional vie'w taken along line 13-13 in FIGURE ll-.A with the side and overhead compression station not shown for purposes of clarity and showing the station at which the carton blank receives the cans thereon and also showing` the" gluing station;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentaryve'rtical sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIGURE 13 and showing the gluing station;

FIGURE 15 is a transverse'vertical section taken along.` lthe line 15-15 of FIGURE l2 and clearly showing the Patented Jan. 16', 1962` carton blank folding Station and the relationship of the side compression unit thereto;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 16--16 of FIGURE 5 and showing the means for actuating the fingers or punches for moving the carton locking tabs into a vertical plane;

FIGURE 17 is a horizontal section taken along line 17-17 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged longitudinal horizontal section taken `along line 18--13 of FIGURE 1 and showing the side compression unit for moving the opposite side walls of the carton into tight engagement with the cans to be conned therein;

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking in the direction of the arrow 19 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2O is an enlarged View of the article or can feeding conveyor looking at Ithe medial portion of FIG- URE 2 and showing the can Iactuated control switches;

FIGURE 2l is an enlarged detail of the stack raising cont-rol switch taken along line 2121 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 22 is enlarged detail of the vacuum control switch taken along line 22--22 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 23 is an enlarged detail of the solenoid controlled vacuum breaking mechanism taken along line 23-23 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 24 is a perspective View of the assembled open ended carton with 4the carton having been inverted to upright position after being removed from the machine;

FIGURE 25 is a schematic wiring circuit for the machine;

FIGURES 26 to 32 taken in sequence illustrate diagrammatically the various operations performed on the carton blank by the packaging machine to form the carton and to position cans of beverage therein.

Framework Referring more particularly to FIGURES l, 3, 6 and 7, an upright substantially rectangular shaped frame is provided, broadly designated at 10: The base of the frame has substantially L-shaped longitudinally extending side members 12 and 12' and longitudinally extending substantially channel shaped inner members 13, 13. The longitudinally extending base members 12, 12 and 13, 13' rest upon four cross bars' 14 suitably secured thereto as by welding.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a base plate 15 is supported by the longitudinally extending members at the rea-1' end of the machine. The base plate 15 serves as a'platform on which are mounted the several motors and gear boxes of the machine. A cut-out portion 15a is provided in the plate 15 (FIGURE 7) through which extends operating mechanism to be later explained in detail. The forward end of the machine has a relatively small base plate 16 which also rests upon the longitudinally extending base members 12, 12' and 13, 13', with the base plate 16 serving to support bearings which form a part yof the drive of the machine.

Extending to the full height of the machine at the rear end are vertical posts 18 :and 18' which are suitably secured at vtheir lowermost ends to the longitudinal frame members 12 and 12 and rest upon the rearmost cross bar 14. A transverse bridging member 19 (FIGURE 8) is secured to the uppermost ends of the vertical posts 18 and 18' and forms therewith a rectangular framework.

At the foremost edge of the base plate 15, FIGURE 1, a transverse vertically disposed plate member 29 is provided. The transverse plate 20 as best shown in FIG URE 13, has a cut-out portion 20a formed in the medial portion of its uppermost edge in which rests the frame members of a conveyor unit, to be later described. Also, las viewed in FIGURE 13, a cut-out portion Ztlb is provided in the upper left-hand corner of the plate 20 for the reception of a glue applying apparatus to be later described. A cut-out portion 20c, FIGURES 1 and 11A, is also provided in the lower portion of the transverse plate 26 for the reception of the main conveyor and compression drive chains to be later described. Intermediate the base plates 15 and 16 is another transverse vertically arranged plate 21 (FIGURES l and 12) having a cutout portion 21a (FIGURE 15) in the medial portion of its upper end for the reception lof the framework of the conveyor unit and a cut-out portion 2lb (FIGURE 1) in its lowermost edge for the reception of the compression unit drive chain.

Again referring to FIGURE l, it will be seen that the machine has a forward transverse vertical plate member 22, having a cut-out portion 22a for the reception of the compression unit drive chain and which is best shown in FIGURE 6. It should be noted that the transverse vertical plate member 22 is of a smaller height than the transverse vertical members 20 and 21.

Extending longitudinally of the machine are relatively large channel-shaped side frame members 24 and 24 which are fastened as by welding to the vertical posts 18 and 18 at lthe rear of the machine and also `to the transverse vertical plates 20, 21 and 22. Forwardly of the transverse vertical plate 21, and resting upon the side frame members 24, 24 is secured as by welding a relatively small platform 26. Another' platform 27 is provided forwardly ofthe platform 26 and in the same plane therewith. r111e platform 27' is securely fastened to the upper edges of the side frame members 24 and 24 and has a cut-out portion 27a (FIGURE 5A) through which extends part Iof the chain drive :of the compression unit.

Disposed ata higher elevation than the side frame members 24, 24 :and extending longitudinally of the machine are rela-tively small channel-shaped side frame members 28 and 28 (FIGURES 2 and 8) which are `securely fastened Ias by welding to the sides of upright posts 1S and 18' and the transverse vertical plates' 20 land 21 with their forward ends termina-ting :at the vertical plate 21. Intermedi-ate the vertical posts 18, '18' and the verticat plate 26, are positioned relatively small pairs of channelshaped vertical posts 29, 29' (FIGURES 1 and 10) which are securely fastened to the upper edges of the side frame members 24, 24 and the lowermost edges yof the small side frame members 28 and 28. The posts 29, 29 -serve as supports to which parts of the inner construction of the machine are secured. Relatively large vertical posts 3i! and 30', also extend between the side frame members 2,4, 24 and the upper side frame members 23, 28' and serve as a support for the bearings of the main conveyor, to be later described.

Immediately above the transverse vertical plate 20, (FIGURE 13) are vertically extending posts 32, 32' which are fastened at their lowermost ends -to the side frame members 2S, 28. The ver-tical posts 32, 32' are bridged at the-ir uppermost ends by a transverse frame member 33. A longitudinal brace 34 (FIGURES 11 and and 11A) spans the distance between the transverse members 19 and 33 to add rigidity to the frame. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 15, the machine has short vertical posts 35, 35' having their lower ends suitably secured to the platform 26. The vertical posts 35, 35 are space-d inwardly from the sides of the machine and serve as supports for the rearward end of the overhead carton compression unit to lbe described in detail later. Longitudinally extending frame members 36, 36 (FIGURES 1 and 5A) extend rearwardly from the vertical posts 35, 35' and have their rear ends suitably secured to the transverse frame member 33. On the rear portion of the platform 27 are mounted vertical posts 37, 37 which with the vertical posts 35, 3S form supports -for the yover-head cornpression unit.

Drive means for main shaft Referring to FIGURES 3 and 7, and more especially to FIGURE 3, it will best be understood the manner in which the various machine parts are driven. A main drive motor 40 is provided having a built in gear box 41 and` 

